Last year I applied to just one graduate program and failed at the telephone interview stage. This was largely due to the fact I held many issues with graduate programs, the application, their design and the fact they were sold to us as the only viable option of finding employment.
One year on, well you know the story.
This post will outline a few of those issues and why I have to now simply ignore them
The Application Process-
Unlike other jobs, because of the sheer number of applicants, most programs consist of numerous stages. My first issue is with their application forms. A simple C.V and covering letter will not suffice for a graduate program, you have to go through pages of application to basically state what was on your C.V in the first place and answer a few generic questions. If you are succesful then you usually face a telephone interview.
I hate telephone interviews. I am not a telephone person. Talking when you can see the other person is much preferred. But to save time and money you are interrogated by phone first. Most telephone interviews I have heard people speak of are said to be very easy and friendly. My only one to date was frankly harrowing.
Should you pass this next stage you will be asked to complete verbal reasoning and numerical tests. Fail and its all over.
This just seems unfair. I am sure the skills needed to complete the tests may be important in the peripheral of the actual role but they are not usually key. The last time I really did any amount of numerical work was 2003. That is 7 year ago and you are going to assess on my ability to recall and answer mathemetical questions. I have an A at GCSE, surely that demonstrates when I need to I can work numerically.
Should you pass this round you are invited to an assessment centre. I have not attended one of these before so cannot really comment. Needless to say you repeat the verbal and numerical tests to prove you have not cheated. These are often sold as a friendly chance to meet the team and understand the job. I do not doubt of course that you are being assessed from the moment you enter to the moment you leave, whether you are presenting, taking tests or merely eating lunch.
After this in some cases there an interview. Usual rules apply.
At any of these stages the company can turn round and say "thanks but no thanks". All that time, all that effort totally wasted and as a student still not entirely intune with the real world just yet, it can be crushing. But its okay because there are others when you can do the exact same. Its not like a job application where you go for an interview, maybe a second interview and are then told whether you are successful or not. This process can take months, interfering with anything else in your life.
But that was not what put me off graduate programs. What put me off was what was involved in the programs themselves. In particular the suggestion you needed to work in each bit of the business to decide which suited you. The fact that HR was based in Dorset, Sales in Aberdeen and Marketing in Manchester was irrelevant. You were expected to complete 3 months in each. At least this was the case for many of the programs I looked at. There were many attractive qualities as well, the gradual training, mentorship, salaries and general attempt to make you feel like you belonged.
1 year on and here I am applying for two different graduate programs. One has a six part process and the other a three. Both have the dreaded tests, but the end result is more pleasing. A chance to train at one location, in one area. All the positive qualities and very few of the negative. One suggests that the process will take a maximum of four weeks, also agreeable.
Neither are anywhere near Southampton, but sadly you cant always have it all.
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